Adolph III was a son of Count Henry VI and his wife Elisabeth of Berg.
He disagrees with Henry's attack on the area around Kassel in 1400, which destroyed the alliance Waldeck had had with the Landgraviate of Hesse.
In 1406, Henry published nineteen complaints about Adolph and proposed to have the issue arbitrated by the mayors and councillors from Korbach and Niederwildungen.
It was not until 1421 that Adolph's brother-in-law, Count John II of Ziegenhain, managed to mediate a compromise between the two brothers and theirs sons, Otto III and Wolrad.
The division of the county was confirmed, however, the brothers also agreed that no land would be sold off or mortgaged without knowledge and consent from the other family branch.